In North Carolina, when a worker is killed in a workplace accident, his widow and children typically are entitled to receive worker’s compensation death benefits. However, the situation can be very complicated when the worker dies while unmarried. In 2018, we held a full evidentiary hearing before the North Carolina Industrial Commission and successfully obtained […]

In August of 2016, we were associated by an out-of-state attorney regarding a motor vehicle collision that occurred in North Carolina over a year earlier. The collision was caused by a vehicle owned by a landscaping company, and the insurance company for the landscaper had refused to engage in settlement discussions, claiming that the driver […]

We successfully litigated a personal injury claim for a 74 year old woman who was savagely attacked by three dogs in her own yard, and obtained a $1,000,000 judgment in Wayne County Superior Court. Our investigation revealed that the owners of the dogs and the home where the animals were kept had no insurance and […]

Riddle & Brantley are the most amazing, sweet, professional, patient, understanding, knowledgeable, well, I guess you can see what I think of them. My case was settled exactly one year to the day of the accident.

I really enjoyed how Riddle & Brantley worked with me through this whole process, always with a kind voice and the smiles were so inviting. This allowed me to know that I picked the right law firm for my case.

Regardless of your job, there are potential hazards that can cause serious injuries. As a result, most employers are required to have workers’ compensation insurance. Workers’ compensation insurance ensures that employees are fairly compensated for their workplace injuries without having to file a lawsuit against the employer. It is important to remember that you are […]

For most people, the only time they interact with an attorney is when something bad has happened to them such as an injury or a car accident. While under the emotional or physical pain after an incident, it may not be easy to find an attorney, especially the right attorney, to represent you. You will […]

If you were hurt — physically, emotionally, or financially — due to another person’s negligence, you may qualify for a personal injury lawsuit. Whether someone else can be held responsible is key to determining if you have a case. With enough evidence that someone’s negligence caused your injury, you may be able to reach a […]

GM Begins Settlement Payments for Ignition Switches

General Motors Company (GM), one of the world’s largest auto manufacturers, has begun issuing settlement payments to victims injured by its defective ignition switches. So far, the GM Compensation fund has settled 130 cases out of a total of 4,180 claims.

The compensation fund was created on Aug. 1, 2014, to settle claims for damages relating to last year’s massive recall efforts related to the faulty switches. The settlement fund was intended to settle claims quickly, and provide compensation for injured people who may have been barred from filing lawsuits because of GM’s 2009 bankruptcy case.

The compensation fund is being administered by Kenneth Feinberg, an independent attorney with experience overseeing similar settlements. Feinberg was also involved in distributing compensation to victims of tragedies like the 9/11 attacks and the BP oil spill.

The defective ignition switches affected multiple makes and models of GM vehicles. If the vehicle was jostled, or a keychain was too heavy, the car could turn off while driving, leading to serious accidents. The accidents were made worse because the defect resulted in the air bags failing.

People who believed that a defective ignition switch caused their accident had until Jan. 31 to file a claim with the settlement fund. Claimants needed to fill out a form, and include supporting evidence like photographs and police reports.

Feinberg told CNBC in an interview that approximately 3,000 of the claims were deficient and missing information. His office was working with these claimants to determine if such information was available, and if these people were eligible for settlement.

GM is not involved in the evaluation or settlement of these claims. Feinberg’s office has the independent authority to determine if a claim has merit, and if so, how much of a settlement should be offered. GM set aside somewhere between $400 and $600 million to fund these settlements. Thus far, no eligible claimant has refused to take the settlement offered.

People who missed the Jan. 31 deadline but believe that a defective ignition switch caused their accident still have the option of filing a lawsuit against GM in court.

If you believe that you or your loved one was part of an accident caused by a defective part, you have options. Contact Riddle & Brantley today, and learn more about what our experienced auto accident and products liability attorneys can do for you.